Spring bed-bottom



(No Model.) B. R. PLATT.

SPRING BED BOTTOM.'

No. 293,077. `Patented Peb. 5, 1884;

WITNESSBS ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR;

N PETERS. Plwwmhngnpmr, nnnnnnnnn C SPRING BE SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters D-B-oT-rolvl.

Patent No. 293,077, dated February 5, 1884.

Application filed June 1G, 1888. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern g i Be it known that I, BUTLER R. Pi'n-yrnof Plainwell, in the county of Allegan andState of Mi chigan h ave invented a new and Improved Spring Bed-Bottom, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved spring bed-bottom ot' simple and cheap construction, which shall afford large surface area for the support of the bedding, and which will readily yield to the movements of the body. u

Reference is `to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the gurcs.

Figure l represents in plan view the end portion of a spring bed-bottom embodying my improvements, and as made in two folding sections of the frame. Fig. 2 is an end view oi' the two 'sections as folded. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinalsectional elevation on line .0c Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a pair of the springs, and Fig. 5 a like View of one of the spring-couplings.

I here represent my springs and couplings as connected to a frame consisting of opposite end bars, a, connected securely to slats b of any suitable length, two frame-sections, a b, Vbeing here employed for a given width of bed, and hinged together by strong hinges c, so as to fold one section upon the other, as in Fig. 2, for convenient storage or transportation; but for a wider bed three hinged sections may be nsed and the side sections fold upon reverse sides of the central section, as will readily be understood. The springs d may be coiled in cylindrical or double or single cone shapes-preferably the latter form-and to be secured at their apices to the slats bin any suitable manner; and I may make the springs singly and connect them in pairs by a separate cross-bar, e but I prefer to coil the springs in pairs from the ends of the same piece 'of wire, and bend the central portion of the wire so as to formthe notches j", in which the hooks of the wire coupling 71, engage, thenotches j" in any case being iormed in the cross-bar c, where it joins the curving wire of the 'springs and directly opposite the centers ofthe bodies of the springs. The coupling 7L consists of a single piece of wire, first bcntdownward upon itself at the end, to form I a hook, i, then at a point corresponding to the It is bent downward and around parallel with the first cross-head k, in hook form, as at Z, hook Z being made of double thickness of the wire bybending the wire sharply at the endl to a point about at the center of the head, when the wire is bent horizontally and about at right angles to head k, to form the stem m, making, with head k, a -l outline. lllhe wire 7L is then bent to either side, to form a second double `hook, Z, and also beyond the end of stem m to the opposite side of the stem, to form a third opposite double hook, Z2, the wire 7L being again bent horizontally to form the second stem m in line with the rst stem, as shown, and so on in a succession of stems and oppositely-bcnt double-hook heads for any desired width olf frame a b, with a single hook, i, at the other extreme side edge of the coupling; and the end hooks, 'L' i, may also be formed double by bendof the end heads, k, which heads may have hooks formed at the ends of four thicknesses by bending or doubling the wire of the heads rangement would give increased sidewise elasticity of the coupling by the opening and closing of the loops; but the one double of wire is In this example the coupling is made to conneet two adjacent pairs of springs with each other, and the two end pairs to the bed-frame bar a, for which latter purpose I provide the end bar, a, with the fixed staples or eyes o, to be engaged by the hooks ot' the couplings. The lengths ofthe heads k and stems on of the couplings h mayvaryto space the springs d any desired distance apart to accommodate the size of the bed and the degree of elasticity desired, and the coupling heads and stems k m afford a large elastic surface-support to' the bedding between the springs d.

To assemble the parts in a complete bedbottom the springs d are secured to sla-ts b, as the hooks of couplings h are engaged with the staples o of the frame and the notches f ot' the springs, which may quickly and easily be done; and when the connected springs are weighted the draft or pull of the couplings .h on the springs al lengthwise of the bed or in line with distance apart one way of the springs d. Vire ing the wire back on itself to about the center twice on itself each side of stems m, which arconsidered sufficient for all practical purposes.

` *Nrrn STATES PATENT FME? i of the hook andwaround closely to the head 7s IOO the heads k of the couplings will bein a direct ,line with the centers of the springs d, which are thus held in place squarely and theii` clasticity best utilized; and in sidewise strains on the bed the double loops of wire heads 'la are free to open nd close again by their elasticity, thus providing for every condition of strain, and making a bed-bottom Well calculated for comfort and durability in use.

I am aware it is not broadly new to connect a series of pairs of coiled bed-springs by means ot' a Wire-coupling, it being exemplified in Patent No. 216,057 but my special construction and combination of such parts secures advantages that render it superior. Thus, the connecting portion of each pair of springs has two curves or bends, f, which serve as points ofl attachment for the hooks of the coupling, and prevent the said hooks from sliding or slipping laterally when the bed is in use, so that the springs cannot be forced out of due vertical position; and hence the mattress is better supported and rendered more comfortable' for the person reposing on it. It also follows that the mattress-cover is snbj ected to less strain and Wear and the springs retain longer their due form and elasticity. The coupling itself is made with aview to the greatest economy of material and labor consistent with its functi( 11i, and with especial reference to ease of attachment and detachment, each hook being for this purpose separately adapted for instant connection with and disconnection from the adjacent spring. Y

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is'- l. As a new article of manufacture, the Wire coupling for coiled springs of bed-bottoms, the same consisting of a series of cross-heads, k, each having a hook at both ends, and the straight stemsim, which are arranged at right angles to said cross-heads and connect them, as shown and described.

2. The combination of the coupling, consisting of cross-heads 7c, having terminal hooks ft ZZ, duc., and connectingstenis m, with the pairs of springs having connecting cross-bar e and notches or outward bends f, all as shown and described, for the purpose specified'.

BUTLER R. PLATT.

lVitncsscs:

O. J. Wooniinn, FORD F. PA'r'rERsoN. 

